Diabetes Experts

Alanna Chambers is a Registered Dietitian, Certified Diabetes Educator, and Certified Pump Trainer based in Kelowna, BC. With extensive experience in various diabetes settings across Canada, she now focuses on technology training and education for both individuals living with diabetes and healthcare professionals. In recent years, Alanna has been honoured to contribute to Diabetes Canada initiatives and guidelines focused on type 1 diabetes care. Her passion for diabetes education led her to launch Type One Journeys Inc., her private practice devoted to enhancing support and resources for Canada's T1D community. Having lived with Type 1 Diabetes for over 30 years, Alanna understands that effective daily management requires a balance of knowledge, tools, creativity, support, and self-compassion.

Dr. Alanna Weisman, MD, PhD, FRCPC is an Endocrinologist and Clinician Scientist at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto, Canada, and an Assistant Professor in the Division of Endocrinology & Metabolism, Department of Medicine at the University of Toronto. Dr. Weisman attended medical school at Queen’s University and completed residencies in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology & Metabolism at the University of Toronto. Following her clinical training, Dr. Weisman completed a PhD in Clinical Epidemiology & Health Care Research in the Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. Her research program is focused on investigating and understanding determinants of outcomes in type 1 diabetes, to ultimately inform novel management strategies. She has received funding for her research from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), Diabetes Canada, Banting & Best Diabetes Centre, Banting Research Foundation, and JDRF Canada.

Christie Hamilton is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with more than 20 years of experience. She works at the Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes in Toronto where she helps people with type 1 & type 2 diabetes, as well as diabetes in pregnancy. Christie is a co-author of two diabetes self-learning manuals for the Canadian Diabetes Association, including a chapter about endurance training and type 1 diabetes. She has worked at several fitness centres as a personal trainer and fitness instructor, providing support and encouragement for participants. Christie has a passion for food and exercise and loves to share strategies to help others incorporate these into a healthy lifestyle.

Giselle is a Registered Dietitian, recipe developer, and health writer with a Master in Nutrition Communication from Toronto Metropolitan University. She has experience teaching food skills and providing food services to vulnerable populations including folks affected by eating disorders, palliative and long-term care residents, and children. Giselle has extensive experience developing evidence-based digital health promotion content and also completed an accredited internship placement at a Diabetes Education Program.  Giselle is passionate about educating and empowering others to build a positive relationship with food that is not only nourishing and pleasurable but is also accessible, culturally inclusive, and supports overall health and wellbeing.

Dr. Barry Simon MD FRCP is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst. He is an Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Toronto and a Consultant with the Leadership Centre for Diabetes at Mount Sinai Hospital where he improves diabetes adherence in patients with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. For the past two decades he has educated dietitians, family doctors and medical specialists on effective motivational and psychological strategies to improve diabetes adherence, the mental health issues in chronic illness and managing binge eating disorder. He presents workshops across Canada and annually at the Canadian Diabetes Association meetings and has presented in the US and Europe. Increasingly, he has been using spiritually based methods in his care of patients who struggle with diabetes distress and diabetes adherence. He has presented on this topic to diabetes educators and endocrinologists as part of continuing education at annual updates.

Dr. Ilana Halperin is an Associate Professor of Medicine at University of Toronto and endocrinologist and Chief Medical Informatics Officer at Sunnybrook Hospital. She has a large type 1 diabetes practice with a special interest in young adults and pregnant women. She led the publication of the Diabetes Canada Position Paper on Do-it-Yourself AID and the 2025 update on glycemic management for T1D across the lifespan guidelines. She is a strong advocate for the use of advanced technologies to help people living with diabetes decrease the burden of this complex chronic condition.

Joanne Lewis, Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator, has over 20 years of experience as a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator. She has collaborated in the development and implementation of professional diabetes education programs and has presented at local, national and international conferences on a variety of diabetes and chronic disease related topics and has served as an advisor and reviewer for professional organizations and journals.

Lori Berard has 35 years of experience in diabetes education, management and clinical research working as the Nurse Manager for the Health Sciences Centre Diabetes Research Program. She was also a Faculty Member at the University of Manitoba Department of Medicine Section of Endocrinology. Currently she is working as a consultant in diabetes management and clinical research operations. Lori has dedicated many years volunteering with Diabetes Canada and has extensive experience with the Clinical Practice Guidelines. She has been part of over 100 peer reviewed publications and has received many honors and awards related to her work in diabetes.

Dr. Maureen Clement, MD, CCFP is a family physician with a consulting practice in diabetes, in the Interior of British Columbia. She has been actively involved with Diabetes Canada as a past Chair of the Clinical and Scientific section as well as a past chair of the National Advocacy Committee. She has been on the expert committee and steering committee for the 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018 Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines, involved in the following sections: Organization of Care, In-Hospital Management and Pharmacologic Management of Type 2. She is a recipient of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Award for her work in advocacy and people living with diabetes.

Dr. Vallis is a health psychologist based in Halifax, Canada. He is an Associate Professor in Family Medicine at Dalhousie University. He obtained his Ph.D. and M.A from the University of Western Ontario, London, and his B. Sc. From Dalhousie University. His main area of expertise is adult health psychology, with an emphasis on obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular risk and gastroenterology. He spends most of his time training healthcare providers in behaviour change for chronic disease management. He regularly supervises clinical and academic students and is active in research on motivation, behavioural change and adaptation to chronic disease. He consults nationally as well as internationally and is heavily involved in academic publications, journal editing, and clinical practice guidelines. He was on the executive of the Canadian Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Obesity (2020) and lead author of the Psychological and Behavioural Chapter for these new guidelines as well as the 2006 guidelines. As well, he is an author of the Psychology and Mental Health chapter of Diabetes Canada’s Clinical Practice Guidelines (2023, 2018, 2013, 2004). He received the 2024 Distinguished Service Award from the Canadian Association of Bariatric Physicians and Surgeons, the 2021 Charles H Best award from Diabetes Canada and holds a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal by the Government of Canada on the recommendation of the Diabetes Canada.

Michelle Reimer is a Registered Nurse and Certified Diabetes Educator with a Master of Science (Nursing) from Queen’s University. Michelle has been working in diabetes education since 2013, first in a small rural setting in Ontario and more recently in rural Manitoba. She enjoys working with her current team where she focuses on supporting adults as they learn to self manage their diabetes.

Stephen Fenn is a registered social worker with the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers. Stephen is a graduate of the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work from the University of Toronto, where he completed his Masters Degree with a specialization in mental health. Stephen has worked in a variety of clinical and community settings providing counselling, systems navigation support and program management. In his current role, Stephen is a social worker for a diabetes education program in Toronto. Stephen’s work focuses on the intersection between mental and physical health, and how experiences of mental health can mitigate diabetes management. Specifically, Stephen uses therapeutic techniques to support clients with their mental health and navigating the often-confusing health care system. Stephen’s goal is to work towards a world where our mental and physical health needs are understood together, to help support his client’s wellbeing holistically.

Tom Toth, BA, CSCS is a certified personal trainer, strength coach and movement educator based in Toronto, Canada. His practice of over 20 years focuses on helping people with movement difficulties get into exercise. Tom understands the challenges and barriers that many with diabetes face and works to develop accessible and practical fitness programs for every age, level and physical capability. He shares his knowledge through one-on-one and small-group training, writing, and Zoom and in-person seminars.

Wendy Bordman graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto. She is currently the Retail Pharmacy Manager at the Hospital for Sick Children. In 2012, Wendy received her Certified Diabetes Educator designation and conducts many diabetes-related medication reviews for both adults and children. She has also served as an advisor and reviewer for professional organizations and the pharmaceutical industry in the area of diabetes and sits on sub-committees for the Ministry of Health. Wendy continues to be actively involved with interdisciplinary research and education, including speaking at The Pediatrics for Pharmacists conference held by Sick Kids Hospital and acting as a Clinical Instructor at the Leslie Dan School of Pharmacy on the topics of Diabetes and Pediatrics.